Is Wellness a Fit for Small Business?

A new case study aims to prove that implementing a wellness program is a wise investment for a small business, despite reports of potential downsides.

Such programs aim to promote healthier living by providing workers with a combination of resources such as on-site medical screenings, weight-management training, fitness centers and educational seminars. They’ve become popular in recent years among employers seeking to lower health-insurance costs and boost workplace productivity. Many offer workers cash incentives or insurance-premium reductions to fill out health surveys and some use that information to offer health advice.

The new study looks at the impact of a wellness program for employees at Lincoln Industries Inc., a privately held supplier of metal finishing products in Lincoln, Neb., since 1952. …